Virginia "Ginny" Gerboth

Nov 9, 1936 -

Jan 8, 2023

Anchorage, Alaska, resident Virginia Sue Gerboth, known to her friends as Ginny, died on Jan. 8, 2023, in Anchorage.

Ginny was born on Nov. 9, 1936, in Chanute, Kan., to Guy and Jessie (Sorenson) Gamble. In 1943, her family moved to Kansas City, Kan., where, in 1955, she graduated from Wyandotte High School. Four years later, she graduated from Kansas University with a B.S. in elementary education and a minor in early childhood education. On Sept. 1, 1957, she married Dale Gerboth in Kansas City. During their 65-year marriage, Ginny and Dale lived in Kansas, Virginia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, and, since 2005, Anchorage. For 26 of those years, Ginny taught in private pre-schools. An accomplished musician, Ginny played the violin, flute, piano, glockenspiel and guitar, and with her lovely alto voice, sang many solos. She also directed youth choirs in Connecticut and Washington, and in Connecticut, she produced and directed an original "folk-rock" musical Passion Play, drawing audiences from all over Western Connecticut. Everywhere she lived, Ginny was active in the life of her church. In addition to directing youth choirs, she sang in adult choirs, played in a church orchestra, acted in liturgical drama, produced and directed Vacation Bible School skits, was a deacon and chairman of a Board of Deacons, was ordained as a Methodist Lay Speaker and often filled the pulpit for vacationing ministers.

In 1982, Ginny became certified as a teacher of the Bethel Bible Series, and for the next 26 years, taught nine Bethel Bible classes and trained others to teach the Bethel Series. One of her Bethel classes was taught at the women's maximum security prison in Bedford Hills, N.Y. For many years, Ginny was involved in amateur theater, acting and directing with theater groups in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut and with the Anchorage Community Theater and Anchorage Senior Activities Center's Off Their Rockers Drama Troupe. In 1991, Ginny was initiated into P.E.O., an educational philanthropic organization. She served that organization in various capacities in Washington and Anchorage. Ginny and Dale traveled extensively, visiting all 50 states and 26 foreign countries.

Ginny was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; and a brother. She is survived by her husband, Dale; sister, Wanda Haws (David) of Mission, Kan.; and brother, William Gamble of San Diego, Calif. Also surviving are four children, Dr. Gregory Gerboth (Jonna) of Anchorage, Jeffrey Gerboth (Lisa) of Apex, N.C., Mary Bono (Alan) of Antelope, Calif., and John Gerboth (Karen) of Waterford, Conn.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held for Ginny on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church in Anchorage. Memorial contributions may be made to Amazing Grace or to a charity of your choice.